Mark 8

The Pulpit Commentary - Mark 8:32

And he spake the saying openly ( παῤῥησία ); literally, without reserve. This sudden announcement excited St. Peter. It was a new and startling communication. Peter took him, and began to rebuke him . The word προσλαβόμενος indicates that he "took hold of him," to lead him apart, as though to have the opportunity of warning him with the greater familiarity and secrecy. So say St. Chrysostom and others. Peter would not have his own confession of Christ thus evacuated, as it were;... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Mark 8:32-33

Covert temptation. This scene has, of course, certain features connected with it which cannot be imitated by ordinary persons, or by mere men. Christ exercised a Divine insight and authority. But there are certain principles illustrated. We see— I. HOW IT PRESENTS ITSELF . 1 . Under the guise of friendship. The love may be real in the individuals who are the instruments of temptation, but their knowledge is not sufficient, or their moral character not so, high as it... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Mark 8:33

But he turning about, and seeing his disciples, rebuked Peter. The words indicate a sudden movement ( ὁ δὲ ἐπιστραφεὶς ), accompanied by a keen searching look at his disciples. Then he singles out Peter, and addresses to him, in their presence, the severe rebuke, Get thee behind me, Satan: for thou savourest not ( οὐ φρονεῖς )— literally , thou mindest not— the things of God, but the things of men . The form of words is the same as that used by our Lord to Satan... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Mark 8:34

He called unto him the multitude with his disciples . This shows that there was an interval between what had just taken place and what is now recorded. Our Lord now, without any further special reference to St. Peter, delivers a lesson of universal application; although, no doubt, he had Peter in his mind . If any man would ( εἴ τις θέλει ) come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me . This self-denial ought to extend to everything, even to life itself,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Mark 8:34-38

The worldling and the Christian: a contrast. Our Lord had just foretold his own sufferings, and now he goes on to speak of his requirement—that his disciples should be willing to follow him in the way of the cross. Soon they would be involved in persecution and trials, which they would be unprepared to meet unless they had wholly surrendered themselves to him. He never hid from his disciples what it would cost them to follow him. Again and again, when there were signs of defection on the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Mark 8:35

Because the cross is sharp and afflicting, our Lord animates his followers to bear it by the thought of its great and everlasting rewards. The meaning of the verse is this: he who by trying to shun the cross and to escape self-denial would save his life here, will lose it hereafter. But he who loses his life here for the sake of Christ, either by dying in his cause or by denying and mortifying his lusts out of love for him, he in the life to come shall find his life in the bosom of Christ and... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Mark 8:35-38

Parallel passages: Matthew 16:25-27 ; Luke 9:24 - 26 .— Secular profit and spiritual loss. I. A CURIOUS CALCULATION . These verses present themselves in the light of an arithmetical calculation regarding profit and loss—a calculation as important as it is curious. In this calculation the soul is on one side, and the world on the other; secular matters on the one hand, spiritual concerns on the other. A calculation of this sort involves a difficulty, for there is no common... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Mark 8:36

What doth it profit a man, to gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? ( ζημιωθῆναι ); literally, forfeit his life ( ψυχή ) . The word ψυχή in the Greek, originally meaning simply "breath," as the sign of life, is of very comprehensive import, embracing not merely "the breath of life," but also the "soul," or immortal part of man, as distinguished from his mortal body, also the mind or understanding, as the organ of thought. "Life" seems here to be the best English... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Mark 8:37

In exchange ( ἀντάλλαγμα ) for his life . The Greek term here means an " equivalent ," "a compensation. " The " life ," in its largest sense and meaning, defies all comparison, surpasses all value. It has been bought and redeemed with the precious blood of Christ; therefore the whole world would be a poor price for the soul of one man. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Mark 8:38

Our Lord here looks onward to the day of judgment. Whosoever shall be ashamed of me . "Whosoever:" the word includes all, whatever their position or circumstances may be. "Shall be ashamed of me;" that is, shall deny my faith, or blush to confess me here. Of him shall the Son of man be ashamed ; that is, Christ will despise him, when he shall appear with power and great glory, in that sublime majesty which he gained by his death upon the cross. In this adulterous and sinful generation. ... read more

The Pulpit Commentary - Mark 8:32

The Pulpit Commentary - Mark 8:32-33

The Pulpit Commentary - Mark 8:33

The Pulpit Commentary - Mark 8:34

The Pulpit Commentary - Mark 8:34-38

The Pulpit Commentary - Mark 8:35

The Pulpit Commentary - Mark 8:35-38

The Pulpit Commentary - Mark 8:36

The Pulpit Commentary - Mark 8:37

The Pulpit Commentary - Mark 8:38

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